Introduction to financial management of the firm. Topics include: relationship of the finance function with other functional areas of the firm, use of financial statements as measures of corporate performance and for financial forecasting, working capital management, time value of money and its use in the valuation of cash flows, security evaluation, capital budgeting, capital structure, financial intermediaries and investment banking, long-term debt, preferred and common stock, and the effect of these financial decisions on dividend policies. Prerequisite: ECO 110, ECO 120; ACC 222; admission to business. Offered Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

FIN 360 Cr.3

Principles of Insurance

A survey of insurance and risk management concepts, the insurance industry and common insurance contracts. Topics include: types of insurers, functions of insurers, legal principles of insurance, and analysis of property, liability, life and health contracts. Special emphasis will be placed on personal insurance for the home, automobile, life and health. Prerequisite: ACC 221. Offered Fall, Spring.

FIN 361 Cr.3

Life Insurance

A study of life insurance and its relationship to financial planning. Topics covered are the determination of financial needs for survivors resulting from premature death of a family member, concepts of life insurance and annuities including quantitative foundations, policy provisions, comparisons of alternate products, and taxation issues. Prerequisite: FIN 355, FIN 360; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

Comprehensive study of current theories concerning the valuation of the firm and its capital structure. Topics emphasized are risk analysis, capital structure, dividend theories, cost of capital, capital budgeting and management of working capital. Prerequisite: FIN 355; admission to business. Offered Fall, Spring.

FIN 380 Cr.3

Principles of Investment

The study of investment instruments. Topics include: valuation of common and preferred stocks, bonds, options, futures contracts, real estate, and several other securities and commodities. The risk associated with each form of investment, construction and management of investment portfolios, investment databases, and current trends in investments are studied. Prerequisite: FIN 355; admission to business. Offered Fall, Spring.

FIN 390 Cr.3

Money and Capital Markets

Examination of the factors influencing the level and structure of interest rates. Includes the processes, institutions, and public policy implications of markets for short-term and long-term debt instruments, the stock market, and current trends in capital markets. Prerequisite: FIN 355; admission to business. Offered Fall, Spring.

FIN 400 Cr.1-3

Finance Forum

Emphasis will be on the examination and study of current financial issues. Topics will vary by semester. Departmental option for pass/fail or letter grade. Repeatable for credit - maximum 6. Prerequisite: junior standing; admission to business. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Occasionally.

FIN 407 Cr.3

Advanced Financial Planning

An overview of the financial planning process, including an introduction to the technical and intuitive aspects of the primary components in a financial plan. Financial and personal data are integrated to develop a comprehensive financial model including a variety of components. The components may include balance sheet and cash flow statements, retirement planning, investing strategies, insurance needs, taxes and estate planning. Prerequisite: FIN 355; senior standing. Offered Fall.

FIN 410 Cr.3

Management of Financial Institutions

The management of commercial banks and other deposit-type financial institutions. Emphasis is placed on the environment in which financial institutions operate, its changing nature, and managerial decision making within that environment. Specific topics include loan and investment policies, asset/liability management, management of investment risk, and regulation of financial institutions. Prerequisite: FIN 390 or ECO 301; admission to business. Offered Spring.

FIN 426/526 Cr.3

Real Estate Finance

The contractual nature and legal implications of the instruments used in financing real estate. The structure and operation of the primary and secondary mortgage markets; instruments, techniques, and strategies in financing real property investments. Prerequisite: FIN 456; junior standing; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

FIN 427 Cr.3

Real Estate Appraisal

Development of the process of value determination for real properties in the context of a market setting. Development of the analytical tools to be used in implementing the valuation process. Development of the complex interactions among the site, the neighborhood, the community, and the region in value determination. Prerequisite: FIN 456; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

FIN 430/530 Cr.3

Financial Planning and Strategy

Long-term planning as it relates to special problems of acquiring funds and selecting and deploying assets. Emphasis is placed on forecasting long-term funds requirements, and the suitability of specific financing vehicles for particular needs. Prerequisite: FIN 370; junior standing; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

The international financial system and the application of basic principles of business finance in an international context. Topics include: the finance function in the multinational firm, foreign exchange markets, cost of capital, and capital expenditure analysis in the multinational firm. International accounting and reporting procedures are reviewed. Prerequisite: FIN 355; junior standing; admission to business. Offered Spring.

FIN 447/547 Cr.3

Advanced Financial Analysis

Offers the students the opportunity for advanced study of topics related to (1) business ethics and professional standards, (2) investment tools, (3) asset valuation, and (4) portfolio management. Students will learn how to effectively analyze financial statements, apply statistical models, and evaluate both international and derivative securities. Completion of this course will also assist students in preparing for the Level I exam of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. Department option for Pass/Fail grading. Prerequisite: FIN 355, FIN 370, FIN 380; finance major plan; senior standing. Consent of department. Offered Spring.

FIN 450 Cr.1-6

College of Business Administration Internship

The internship program as conceived and implemented is designed to provide an opportunity for students in the College of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to participate in an approved program with cooperating business, governmental or civic organization for usually 15 weeks of their undergraduate work. For additional information, see internship description under the College of Business Administration heading. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: cumulative GPA of at least 2.50; ACC 221, ACC 222; BUS 205, BUS 230; ECO 110, ECO 120; FIN 355; IS 220; MGT 308; MKT 309; admission to business. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.

A seminar course focusing on the current problems and issues of liability, life and health insurance. Financial and insurance theory are used to assess proposed solutions. Broad topics include insurance company operations; problems of ratemaking, underwriting and regulation; confidentiality of life insurance applications; and problems of financing health care. Prerequisite: FIN 360, FIN 370; FIN 361 or FIN 362 or FIN 465 or ECO 471; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

This course presents the financial analysis industry standard models for determining the value of equity securities. Emphasis is placed on the calculations of cost of capital and equity value and the sensitivity analysis of the results. Students will be required to create and present a sell-side analyst report. Prerequisite: FIN 370, FIN 380; junior standing. Offered Fall.

FIN 475/575 Cr.3

Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management

An in-depth investigation of modern concepts of asset ownership, risks and the reduction of risk through portfolio construction. An efficient markets approach to contemporary capital market and portfolio theory with applications to investment management. Prerequisite: FIN 380; junior standing: admission to business. Offered Spring.

FIN 477/577 Cr.3

International Investments

The international political, economic and legal environment in which investment decisions are made. An evaluation of security valuation theory and practice in the context of international money and capital markets. Topics include the motives for international investment, exchange risk, foreign money and capital market instruments and their markets, and construction and management of portfolios. Prerequisite: FIN 380; junior standing; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

FIN 480/580 Cr.3

Financial Management and Control

Focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the controller and treasurer in today’s business and economic environment. From a controller’s/treasurer’s perspective, the course content includes: functions, organization, characteristics, standards of ethical conduct, financial reporting, internal controls/operations analysis, cost management and professional development. Prerequisite: FIN 370 or ACC 322; ECO 301 or ECO 305; senior standing; admission to business. Offered Occasionally.

FIN 485 Cr.3

Problems and Cases in Finance

Application of concepts and techniques to the solution of financial problems in a variety of areas using the case method and computer simulation games. Topic areas include corporation finance, security analysis and investment management, and commercial banking. Prerequisite: FIN 370, FIN 380; admission to business. Offered Fall, Spring.

FIN 499 Cr.1-3

Independent Study

Individual reading or research under the guidance of a staff member. Open to selected, advanced students who have excellent records in the department. Registration with the consent of the student’s regular adviser, the instructor and the department chairperson. Approval form available in department office. Form must be completed prior to registration. Repeatable for credit - maximum 6. Prerequisite: admission to business. Consent of instructor. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Occasionally.